UC Davis Scores Early and Holds-on to Defeat No. 12 UCSB, 1-0

DAVIS, Calif. -
UC Davis forward Sule Anibaba scored in the 19th-minute on Saturday afternoon to lift UC Davis to a 1-0 win over visiting 12th-ranke UC Santa Barbara. The win was the first ever for the Aggies over UCSB.

At the 18:13 mark, Anibaba took a pass from midfielder Nicholas Lind and one-timed the ball from about 15 yards out on the left side. Gaucho goalkeeper Kyle Reynish made a leaping attempt to block the shot, but it found the back of the net to give Davis a 1-0 edge.

UCSB had a handful of chances, but for the most part it was a very defensive match. The Gauchos outshot the Aggies by an 11-7 count, but the teams each had four shots on goal. Davis goalkeeper Charles Warne was up to the task as he posted four saves. Reynish saved three of the four shots that went his way. Not only did Davis score the only goal of the match in the first half, but it also outshot Santa Barbara 5-3. The second half was a different story as the Gauchos had eight shots to the Aggies two.

The match was relatively physical as the teams combined for 29 total fouls. UCSB had 15 fouls and UCD had 14. Davis also accumulated five yellow cards on the afternoon while the Gauchos had just one.

Offensively, UCSB was paced by Nick Perara and Bryan Byrne who had four and three shots respectively. Together, the duo combined for seven of the team's 11 shots.

The loss drops UCSB to 5-3 overall. The Gauchos remain 2-0 in Big West play. The victory lifts UC Davis to a 5-4 record.

Santa Barbara will travel to Big West-rival Cal State Northridge for a 3:00 p.m. match on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The Gauchos and Matadors have combined to win the last five league championships.